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| Zoo Station | 
 enlarge | Author: David Downing
Publisher: Soho Press
Category: Book
List Price: $23.00
Buy New: $12.50
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Avg. Customer Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 72046
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.2
ISBN: 1569474540
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9781569474549
ASIN: 1569474540
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
ZOO STATION A WONDERFUL PRE- WWII SPY THRILLER BY AUTHOR DAVID DOWNING May 2, 2007
24 out of 27 found this review helpful
Set in Germany Pre WWII, Englishman John Russell was working as a free lance journalist he had already been a long term resident for 15 years and given that reason had been granted a full accreditation from the Ministry of Propaganda in Berlin. Unlike many of his press corp colleagues who were now eager to get out, Russell wished to remain in Reich for as long as possible, Most Importantly to be with his eleven year old son Paul by his German ex-wife who lived else where in the city and secondly to stay near his current girlfriend Effi, a beautiful German actress.
New Year's Day 1939 in the early hours, Russell had been approached by an old Russian acquaintance his name Shchepkin. Shchepkin wished to hire Russell for his writing skills, making him an offer for extra money and a plan guaranteed to let Russell remain as long as possible in Germany, but this plan of course had more a return favour attached, secret spy work for the Soviets, his cover would be to write positive aspect articles of Nazi achievements for the Russian Newspapers.
Could Russell trust Shchepkin or had things changed between them as years had passed, Russell already found Nazi lives despicable; Geobbles latest Speech on the vibrancy of modern German Culture could not cover the true Nazi reality, Russell already believed war was on its way. Then during early January 1939 the Nazi had brought out more anti-Jewish laws making it so hard now for any to leave. Being a spy didn't seem so unappealing his decision was finally made from threats and financial needs, but the web of espionage was bigger than he ever anticipated. As this thriller open's up, trips around Europe take place, Russell is caught up helping Russia and Britain against German tatics, Russell for himself was trying to survive all dangers thrown his way in uncertain times.
The UK Paperback cover had me drawn to this book straight off, my first novel by David Downing and it's a Wonderful piece of fiction Spy thriller, 4.5 stars I would like to give this, only deducting half because I felt some things were a little bit to convenient for Russell in places. But it remains an incredibly well written piece and very well researched, detailed news stories just earlier months before the war which are mentioned in passing, giving it authenticity. Downing has also kept to the boundaries of historical possibility in writing this and successful shows the pre war glitter and darkness of Berlin on the eve of WWII. Characterizations are shown very strong throughout, Russell and Effi are great characters, but what I thought was fantastic was the conversations between Russell and other Foreign Correspondents, just filled with insightfulness with lots of good sharp ironic comments thrown in. Congratulations David Downing had me hooked to the end and I suspect with this one will win quite a few more fans.
Highly Recommended
A. Bowhill
 3 1/2 Stars - A Well-Written, Well-Researched "Quiet" Thriller! June 23, 2007
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
As Europe is on the brink of war in 1939, Anglo-American journalist and longtime Berlin resident, John Russell, wants to stay in Germany to be near his German son and his actress-girlfriend. Russell can't resist an offer from an old acquaintance from his "communist" days do some work for the Soviets. Soon after, the Nazi and British intelligence services learn of Russell's involvement with the Soviets, and he is made to do some work for them as well. Downing is an excellent writer, with particular strength in the areas of character development, creating a highly realistic sense of atmosphere of what life was like in pre-WWII Nazi Germany and in weaving the extensive research he did into Zoo Station's storyline. I enjoyed reading Zoo Station for these reasons. However, as a book positioned as a thriller, Zoo Station succeeds in creating slow-building tension, but, for me, did not provide "thrills." That is, there were no action-oriented or suspenseful passages in the story that kept me on the edge of my seat or that made me to put everything else in my life aside in order to keep turning the pages in Zoo Station. If you decide to read Zoo Station -- and it IS worth reading -- be prepared for a more passive, "quiet" type of thriller.
 The Hardy Boys minus one June 23, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
The period is fascinating. The book is not. The characters are one dimensional. With all the talk of irony, that can justly suit a sixteen year old, most all of the humour is buried under ennui. One is led to believe the author bought maps of various European cities and decided to write a book. One has little care for the major characters and their cardboard problems. It is the writing that causes this to happen, not the original situations. I am left with the feeling that Downing was paid by the word. A tighter book by another author might have worked.
 Great writing October 20, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Some reviewers put this book down a bit, I guess because there aren't any car chases up and down city streets, or some such content. In my opinion, this is a beautifully written book which should be read by people today. It reminds us what happens under a despotic government, and in case we have forgotten, the terrible situation the Jews were in under Hitler. The protagonist, Russell, is nicely fleshed out, is believable. I was left at the end satisfied with the story, but yearning to know what comes next. Do Russell and Effi get together? What happens to Paul during the upcoming war? Was Russell able to stay in Germany after war broke out? I hope Downing considers writing a sequel to this one.
Zoo Station June 4, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am a World War II genre fan. This is one of the best novels I have ever read in this historical fiction class. The plot is interesting and very plausible, the characters very attractive, the descriptions of wartime Europe riveting,the writing outstanding.
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